This surveillance camera image depicts the suspect (right) and intended victim in an ATM robbery attempt.

ROLLINSFORD — The suspect in a recent attempted strong-arm robbery at an ATM had a knife taped to his arm during the incident.

That and other details were revealed during his arraignment Friday morning in Dover District Court.

On Labor Day, Eric W. Rouleau, 33, of Prospect Street in Somersworth, was arrested as the suspect in the attempted strong-arm robbery on a customer at the TD Bank ATM at 29 Weeks Lane on the Dover-Rollinsford line.

Rouleau admitted to police he had intended to rob the TD Bank, however, when he arrived at the bank at 12:54 p.m. he found it closed for the holiday. He then “set his sights on the victim who was using the ATM,” according to police. Rouleau has remained in jail since his arraignment on Sept. 3 when bail was set at $25,000 cash. The judge agreed with the state prosecutor at that time that Rouleau is a flight risk.

At a hearing Friday morning at 10:30 a.m., Rouleau waived his right to a probable cause hearing and any formal presentation of evidence.

Rouleau and his defense introduced an objection to the high bail and their desire for Rouleau to be entered into Community Corrections.

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Eric Rouleau

“This was a very acute mental health issue at the time,” his lawyer said. “Mr. Rouleau had been off his medication for some period of time.”

According to the defense, Rouleau went off his medication due to an error at the pharmacy that would not allow a refill of a necessary long-term prescription. That issue has since been resolved.

“He was unstable and he was unstable at the jail,” his lawyer said. “He's not now. The medication has been delivered to the jail and he is fully stabilized.”

The defense argued Rouleau has held a job in Rochester for seven years and has strong ties to the community and could stay with his mother or sister, who live in the area. Rouleau is also receiving mental health treatment and sees doctors regularly for his medical conditions, which include chronic hip pain.

Community Corrections has declined to accept Rouleau into the program, but Rouleau's defense suggested they be ordered to accept him.

In interviews with police, Rouleau said he was armed at the time of the robbery and had a knife taped to his arm.

At the hearing, the state attorney disclosed that the demand note that Rouleau had intended to give to the teller at the TD Bank had said, “Give me the money out of the drawer or I will [expletive] kill you.”

Police had also spoken to Rouleau's girlfriend, the owner of the SUV that Rouleau had used on the day of the attempted robbery. Rogers told police Rouleau had told her he was going to rob the TD Bank that morning, but she thought he was joking because he had talked about doing that in the past.

According to the report, Rogers later saw him tape a kitchen knife to his arm as she was leaving the residence. When she returned home later, Rouleau was sitting in a chair and told her she might see him on the news because he had robbed someone at an ATM.

Rogers found the knife in the master bedroom and placed it in the sink. Rouleau then took it out of the sink and taped it back to his arm, at which point Rogers told him she was going to call the police.

Police spoke to Rouleau's mother who said he has drug problems and needs help. She also said recently he had taken all of the money out of her bank account that she was going to use for a trip to visit her ill mother.

Rouleau's defense requested bail be changed to $25,000 cash to convert upon supervision by Community Corrections or $1,000 cash.

The matter was taken under advisement and a determination may be made later Friday afternoon.